KENNY DALGLISH admits Craig Bellamy made sacrifices to give himself a second chance at Liverpool FC – and believes the Welshman is a better player now that at 25.

Bellamy returned to Anfield on transfer deadline day on a free transfer having negotiated his release from Manchester City.

The 32-year-old striker is understood to have accepted a significant cut in wages to move to Liverpool, where he scored nine goals in 42 appearances in the 2006-07 season.

“When he came here last time he said he was a Liverpool fan and had always wanted to play for the club,” said the Liverpool manager.

“He has that opportunity again. The older you get the less opportunities you get and he wanted to grab this one. He made some sacrifices to come here.

“He’s a fantastic trainer, has good pace and is always a threat. He always looks like he’s going to do something.

“He’s wiser now and uses his experience really well. I think

he’s ideal for us and someone who will really help us. I think he’s a better player now than he was when he was 25.

“Going back to when he was a younger, I know he made sacrifices to get himself fit – to give himself a chance to be a player. He loves football – I know that for a fact.”

Bellamy could begin his second stint at Liverpool on the bench this afternoon when the Anfield outfit resume Premier League duty at Stoke City.

The forward has not made an appearance in the top flight since May 2010 and has been restricted this season to two international outings for Wales.

And Dalglish added: “If you watched him against Montenegro he was flying in the last minutes so I don’t think there’s any problem with his fitness.”

Steven Gerrard and Martin Kelly both remain sidelined today but Glen Johnson could make his first appearance of the campaign, while Charlie Adam has shrugged off a hip problem.

Dalglish, meanwhile, has hailed the efforts of director of football Damien Comolli during a busy transfer window for the club, comparing the roles of the Frenchman and celebrated former Liverpool chief executive Peter Robinson.

“When I was here before Peter Robinson did everything and was fantastic,” said the Liverpool manager.

“He did everything except decide on the players and it’s exactly the same now. Damien does the finances and I pick the players.”